Tuesday 21 April 2009<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daniel 2:1-16<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed such dreams that his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. So the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, ‘I have had such a dream that my spirit is troubled by the desire to understand it.’ The Chaldeans said to the king (in Aramaic),* ‘O king, live for ever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will reveal the interpretation.’ The king answered the Chaldeans, ‘This is a public decree: if you do not tell me both the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you do tell me the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honour. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.’ They answered a second time, ‘Let the king first tell his servants the dream, then we can give its interpretation.’ The king answered, ‘I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see I have firmly decreed: if you do not tell me the dream, there is but one verdict for you. You have agreed to speak lying and misleading words to me until things take a turn. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.’ The Chaldeans answered the king, ‘There is no one on earth who can reveal what the king demands! In fact no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king is asking is too difficult, and no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because of this the king flew into a violent rage and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. The decree was issued, and the wise men were about to be executed; and they looked for Daniel and his companions, to execute them. Then Daniel responded with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the king’s chief executioner, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon; he asked Arioch, the royal official, ‘Why is the decree of the king so urgent?’ Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. So Daniel went in and requested that the king give him time and he would tell the king the interpretation.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">1 John 2:1-11</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I have come to know him’, but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, ‘I abide in him’, ought to walk just as he walked.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because* the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says, ‘I am in the light’, while hating a brother or sister,* is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister* lives in the light, and in such a person* there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer* is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness. ******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John 17:12-19</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While I was with them, I protected them in your name that* you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost,* so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.* I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.* They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 5, 6</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 5</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Give ear to my words, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give heed to my sighing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listen to the sound of my cry,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my King and my God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for to you I pray.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>evil will not sojourn with you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The boastful will not stand before your eyes;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you hate all evildoers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You destroy those who speak lies;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>will enter your house,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will bow down towards your holy temple</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in awe of you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of my enemies;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>make your way straight before me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For there is no truth in their mouths;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>their hearts are destruction;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">their throats are open graves;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they flatter with their tongues.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make them bear their guilt, O God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let them fall by their own counsels;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">because of their many transgressions cast them out,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for they have rebelled against you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let them ever sing for joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spread your protection over them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that those who love your name may exult in you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For you bless the righteous, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you cover them with favour as with a shield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 6</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or discipline me in your wrath.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul also is struck with terror,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>while you, O Lord—how long?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Turn, O Lord, save my life;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For in death there is no remembrance of you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in Sheol who can give you praise?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am weary with my moaning;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>every night I flood my bed with tears;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I drench my couch with my weeping.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My eyes waste away because of grief;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they grow weak because of all my foes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Depart from me, all you workers of evil,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has heard my supplication;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord accepts my prayer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 10, 11</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 10</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, ‘God will not seek it out’;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all their thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their ways prosper at all times;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your judgements are on high, out of their sight;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as for their foes, they scoff at them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They think in their heart, ‘We shall not be moved;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They sit in ambush in the villages;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in hiding-places they murder the innocent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they lurk that they may seize the poor;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They stoop, they crouch,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the helpless fall by their might.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They think in their heart, ‘God has forgotten,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he has hidden his face, he will never see it.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do not forget the oppressed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why do the wicked renounce God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and say in their hearts, ‘You will not call us to account’?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that you may take it into your hands;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the helpless commit themselves to you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have been the helper of the orphan.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>seek out their wickedness until you find none.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is king for ever and ever;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the nations shall perish from his land.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that those from earth may strike terror no more.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 11</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘Flee like a bird to the mountains;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for look, the wicked bend the bow,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they have fitted their arrow to the string,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the foundations are destroyed,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>what can the righteous do?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is in his holy temple;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord’s throne is in heaven.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his soul hates the lover of violence.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulphur;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord is righteous;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he loves righteous deeds;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the upright shall behold his face.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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